LaChaz Phillips recently earned his associate degree from Georgia Highlands College, and he isn’t afraid of hard work.
While earning his degree in general studies at GHC, Phillips worked third shift as a Warper for the Shaw Plant 15 in Cartersville where he operated a warping machine to transfer cones of yarn to large beams for commercial tufting,
Now he has his eyes set on a bachelor’s in health science at GHC where he wants to combine his passion for helping others and learning more about overall health together into a future career.
“I’ve always to wanted to do a job that involved helping children and coaching sports,” he said, adding that his interest in learning more about the human body is what led him to the field of health sciences.
Since earning his associate, Phillips now works part time as a student employee while dedicating the rest of his time to earning his bachelor’s.
He said the mentorship he has received through his participation in GHC student organization GHAME/Brother 2 Brother led him to meet others with similar goals and values, crediting GHC Project Director of Inclusion and Equity Jon Hershey for “making [him] realize what was important in [his] life.”
“I made a lot of bonds and we’re still close to this day,” Phillips said. “It pushed me to do better and become more of a leader and it also made me socialize and make friends.”
Phillips said he has had a great experience advancing his education at GHC and wants others to know about the impact faculty and staff have made in his life.
“I would like to say GHC changed my life because I didn’t have too great of an experience at my previous institution. Choosing to go to GHC was one of the best decisions I’ve made in my life,” Phillips said. “I met the right people who helped me along the way to achieve my dreams and for that I am thankful for those people.”
